The law

These are the relevant legal provisions concerning discrimination in the Dutch Penal Code.

art. 137c.

A person who publicly, either orally, or in writing, or by image, intentionally makes a defamatory statement about a group of persons on the grounds of their race , religion or personal beliefs, or their hetero- or homosexual orientation, is liable to a term of imprisonment of a period of not more than one year or a fine of the third category. [11-14-1991]

art. 137d.

A person who publicly, either orally or in writing or by image, incites hatred of or discrimination against persons or violence against their person or property, on the grounds of their race, religion or personal beliefs, their sex or their hetero-or homosexual orientation is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than one year , or a fine of the third category. [11-4-1991]

art. 137e.

1. A person who, for any reason other than giving factual information:

Makes public a statement which he knows or or should reasonably suspect to be offensive to a group of persons on the grounds of their race , religion, or personal beliefs, or their hetero-or homosexual orientation, or incites hatred of or discrimination against people or violence against their person or property on the grounds of race, religion or personal beliefs, their sex or their hetero-or homosexual orientation:

Disseminates an object which he knows or should reasonably suspect to contain such defamatory statement or has such in stock for public disclosure or for dissemination; is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than six months or a fine of the third category.

2. Where the offender commits any of the offences defined in this article in the practice of his profession, and where, at the time when the serious offence is committed, less than five years have passed since the previous conviction, of the offender for any of these offences became final, he may be disqualified from the practice of that profession. [11-14-1991]

art. 137f.

A person who takes part in activities, or who extends financial or other material support to activities, aimed at discrimination against persons on the grounds of race, religion or personal beliefs, their sex or their hetero-or homosexual orientation: orientation is liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than three months, or a fine of the second category. [11-14-1991]

art. 137g.

A person who in his official capacity, profession or business, intentionally discriminates against persons on the grounds of their race , religion, or personal beliefs, or their hetero-or homosexual orientation, or incites hatred of or discrimination against people or violence against their person or property on the grounds of race, :is liable to a term of imprisonment of no more than six months or a fine of the third category. [11-14-1991]